Dune: Prophecy is like Game of Thrones in space

Behind every supposedly “great man” there is not just a woman, but a whole sisterhood of supernaturally gifted members who are pulling the strings. At least that’s the case in “Dune: Prophecy,” the HBO prequel series set a whopping 10,148 years before the birth of the false prophet Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet in the films “Dune” and “Dune: Part.” 2.” Not to be outdone by what came before, this promising new approach finds numerous impostors of its own with the power to forever alter the course of the universe and draw us into their machinations as the grim reality of which they may be agents emerges their own destruction.

While this thematic core isn’t as extensive and doesn’t feature the same stunning visuals as the earlier works, it makes the six-episode series an often standout series as it more than stands out from the crowd and, for the most part, out of the long shadow of the fantastic emerges from films. It’s a small, staged but overall well-acted adaptation that delivers a compelling portrait of the corrupt forces of power and the players desperately trying to control the flow of time. It’s just the thing to keep you on the edge of your seat until the Dune Messiah movies return. As it looks into the darkness within the souls and minds of its characters, it finds a most sinister tone that has the power to burn right through the flesh (often literally) of all those in its grasp.

Based on the book Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, which expands on the world originally created by Brian’s late father Frank Herbert, Dune: Prophecy centers on the young group that will become the infamous Order Bene Gesserit from the films. This sisterhood trains to use their minds to influence those whose hands rest on the levers of power in the universe, helping to set things on a better path for millennia. At least that’s what they claim, but the reality is far more complicated.

The group’s leader, Valya Harkonnen, played by the excellent Emily Watson, is trying to keep a dark secret surrounding the death of her former mentor. Her sister Tula, an outstanding Olivia Williams, serves as her ally but is dedicated to caring for the new young members and overseeing their training. At the same time, Valya attempts to influence the rule of Emperor Javicco Corrino, a moderate but quite menacing Mark Strong, following the arrival of the mysterious soldier Desmond Hart, a great Travis Fimmel from the sadly canceled series Raised by Wolves. As she faces a growing crisis within the Order, she has dedicated her life to transforming it.

These are just the basics of Dune: Prophecy, and might still sound slightly intimidating to those unaware of the extensive history it attempts to adapt. There’s no need to worry though, as the creators of the series do a good job of making it accessible to everyone by getting a whole lot of exposition out of the way early on before the story can unfold naturally before us. There is discussion of the historical war with thinking machines, but the characters do not elaborate on the words “Butlerian Jihad,” as it is called in the books. Rather than relying on jargon that could easily become tiresome, it focuses on the dark pleasures that come from watching characters try to vie for power while assassination attempts, betrayal and rebellion lurk around every corner. It all gets to the heart of the material, much like Game of Thrones did when it reached its climax. Only it’s not the dragons that are the greatest weapon, but the powers of Valya and Desmond that can reshape this world. The former uses the so-called voice, which, expressed through great sound design, allows her to make people follow her wishes, no matter what harm it causes them. However, even she soon finds herself playing with forces she cannot fully understand.

A lot of this hinges on the fact that the prophecy of the title represents both an existential threat to the universe and a personal threat to people like Valya. As we see in scattered but grimly bleak flashbacks, she carries her immense loss with her as well as a hunger for power that prevents her from recognizing the growing nightmare that may soon be upon her. In every hushed conversation in the darkness and in every tense public confrontation that emerges in the light, we see the broken pieces she has kept hidden. Soon they will inevitably pour out. Whenever it seems like the series is getting bogged down in a few repetitive dialogue scenes, Watson confidently walks into a throne room and steers everything back into the right direction with the power of her presence alone. She exudes confidence with ease, but when we see subtle fears dancing in her eyes, the show slyly hints at the horrors that await. When she comes eye to eye with Fimmel’s strikingly penetrating gaze in a standout scene, the energy of the performances crackles along with some effective flourishes in the way it’s shot and directed.

Also worthy of recognition is the excellent production design and visual effects that effectively transport us into any environment. Even though the series makes fun of itself with dialogue at one point, when a character says, “If you like stark landscapes and minimalism, you’ll be very happy,” it gently draws you in. It’s all pretty simple, but the various settings in just a handful of different planets all turn out to be different. Not only does this help distance oneself from the films, but it also shows great restraint by only allowing occasional glimpses of the great dunes of Arrakis with the giant sandworms that dominate the landscape there. Instead, “Dune: Prophecy”, similar to the also quite good current spin-off series “The Penguin”, is about seeing what the other corners of the universe look like and how the various characters all fight to be in it to thrive. It’s about both the internal conflicts and the growing external conflicts that are taking shape.

Then, as we are taken deeper into a great beyond that lies beneath everything we and the characters have experienced, the show plunges us into something more akin to horror. While the films had similar visions of immense destruction, the series exudes its own unsettling sense of dread. Not only is her construction more disturbing and evocative, it also delves deeper into the sisterhood’s mythology without exaggerating it or losing its mystery. As we hear the whispers that echo through these scenes and watch the sand shift beneath the feet of supposedly sure-footed characters, we realize that this universe is controlled by forces deep in the shadows. When even those who see it all are caught off guard, the threads they hold begin to slip.

This not only makes for good television, but also the first steps of a promising new epic that not even the Bene Gesserit could fully foresee.

“Dune: Prophecy” premieres Sunday, November 17th at 9pm ET/PT on HBO and streaming on Max.